MOV file to MPG or to VS for edit or to make DVD

[Ken Berry]

I have just discovered a curious thing. I was looking through the sample audio files which came with X2 in relation to another post here. And I found that they all were in mpeg audio format -- and they all happily played! So X2 obviously has access to the relevant codec!!

[Ilene]

That's weird --- didn't you say you tried it in X2?? I tried several different conversions using MPEG audio... I can send you another snippet tomorrow if you wouldn't mind trying it?

I should try some of the sample video files from X2 in X4... they are probably on the bonus content?

Other thought is, in re- reading your post --- you tried just audio files, not audio/video in a self contained file.... I wonder if that might be a difference too?

thanks again....

[Ken Berry]

I don't think that playing only audio files would make any difference... it is the same codec. And I distinctly had remembered -- before ever receiving your file -- doing DVDs with mpeg audio inX2 as I am in PAL land and often used mpeg audio in previous years and versions.

But yes, happy to try another snippet of video!

[Ilene]

I will send you that file now... I need to get hm to render out a small clip for me as the original file is 1.2gb!

I had another thought.... are you able to check and see if the file I sent you will open in DVD Movie Factory?? Isn't that a similar program to the menu program in VS? If so, and it works... I'm happy just to buy Movie Factory and use it to make the DVD. I really need the authoring functionality of these files more than the editing... Any editing I can have done in FCP if necessary.
lmk.. thanks.

[Ken Berry]

I have just tested your clip in Movie Factory 7. However, it reacts the same as in VS -- which is to be expected, I'm afraid, since essentially the authoring function of MF 7 is largely the same programming in the authoring modules of X4 and X2. Moreover, MF 7's Properties for the clip show no audio. So no go there, I'm afraid...

[Ilene]

ok... worth the shot --- thanks
How much degradation in quality do you think you get when you Capture - Import from Digital Media.... this is another work around. If he were to make a playable DVD, I can rip from his DVD via this method. I don't notice much if any degradation ( maybe there isn't any) and I get an mpeg2 file that plays fine... I just don't know if that is a reliable method for me to go back out to DVD with. I don't want to risk losing quality.

[Ken Berry]

AFAIK, the Import from Digital Media method will bring in the same quality as oin the DVD. When you edit and then produce a new video, there will be one degree of loss of quality since that is the nature of mpeg-2. But if you maintain the same bitrate as the imported mpeg-2, I personally don't think the quality loss could be detected by the human eye. But you would need to cross-check that with the aid of your own human eyes to see if the result is satisfactory to you!!

[Ilene]

I think then that this is the answer... have him burn his file to a playable DVD... I capture and import from digital media, and then burn back out... It's interesting because i have someone else who gives me mpgs frequently on a data disk and I just take their mpgs and make new playable dvds.. Seems like both yield same results. BTW I did do this as a test already... and my eye couldn't really see a difference -- I just didn't know if this method was a good practice to make a habit of.

btw --- did you see if my file worked in any lower versions of VS... maybe VS 11?

thanks again for the help!

Ilene

[Ken Berry]

Just make sure he makes a DVD with high quality bitrate e.g. 8000 kbps if the project is an hour or less.

And no, I couldn't test your clip on any lower version of VS as all my computers run Win 7 these days, and anything lower than X2 is not compatible with Win 7. (Well actually I also have a netbook with XP but the screen resolution is too low to install any version of VS...)

[Ilene]

k... thanks... yes, it will be a high quality render from his end.

I have one windows 7 machine, and one XP... so I could re-load VS11 --just dont want to if I don't have too... Although the plus's to VS11 was the ability to add as many 3rd party transition effects packages as you wanted! lol.

if you know someone running VS11 ie any of the other admins, or Graham? who would test the file for me, let me know.

thanks
Ilene

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Ilene

I don’t have VS 11 but do have VS10 which is a ulead product so should work similar to VS 11.
Although it would seem as though Corel have dropped Mpeg Audio, we should still be able to play them, but will be unable to render Mpeg Audio.

If you send the file I will gladly give it a go.
But having read the posts I think the problem is with the file rather than the VS codec’s.

In your first post you said “I had him convert the MOV file to MPEG 2 The file”
Why not edit the original Mov files?

[Ilene]

happy to send you the file and thanks for chiming in.

I did try the MOV file... the MOV file was over 2 GB and just didn't play through clearly.. and maybe became too compressed. He's going to look at the properties of that mov file and maybe send me a snip of that too...

what is your email? I'll send you the file I sent to Ken.

thank
Ilene

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
e-mail link to right of this post, under the PC details.

[Ilene]

the file is 25mb, too large to email. I sent it to Ken via Yousendit.com, which provided him with a link to download the file. Would you mind providing me with your email so that I could do the same? I can't access the address ( I don't think) from the link on the left, nor do I see where to attach a file.

If you want you can send me a private message with your email.

thanks
Ilene

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Ilene

Thanks for the sample video, Ken you are correct in your assumption regarding 20000kbps

I have been able to convert the video using standard Mpeg2 settings using AVS Converter.
The good news is I can play the video and hear the sound. VS fully recognises the video.

The main problem being the 20000.
Your sample uses 720 x 480 x 20000 kbps, this is not standard Mpeg2 DVD, nor HD.

I converted the video to :-

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: 6000 kbps
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo


I think you have to talk to your conversion man and ask that he converts using a suitable bit rate 8000kbps is the max you should use.